Uncommon Power. Living As A Divine Witness Of God's Strength. 1st Peter 2:11-12

Stand with me and raise up your Bible and repeat after me.

This is my Bible.

I am what it says I am.

I can do what it says I can do.

I am going to learn how to be what it says I can be.

Today I will learn more of the word of God.

The indestructible, never ending, living word Of God.

I will never be the same.

I will never be the same.

In Jesus Name

Amen?

Before you sit down, say good morning to your brothers and sisters.

Message today is on Uncommon Power: Living as a Divine Witness to God’s Strength

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:11-12

"Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." (1 Peter 2:11-12, NIV)

In a world obsessed with power, success, and influence, we are often led to believe that true strength lies in wealth, position, or status.

But God’s power is something entirely different—uncommon power, a divine strength that is made perfect in weakness. It’s the power to live a life of integrity, humility, and love in a world that often glorifies selfishness and pride.

Today, we will explore the power that transforms not only our lives but also the lives of those around us, drawing them closer to God. This power is found not in our abilities, but in our willingness to reflect Christ through our actions, especially in a world that desperately needs His light.

The Story of Ruth: A Life Marked by Uncommon Power Allow me to tell you the story of Ruth, a woman whose life radiated uncommon power. Ruth was a teacher who worked in a corporate environment where ambition, corruption, and dishonesty ran rampant. Colleagues routinely sabotaged one another for personal gain, and the idea of kindness or truth seemed naive. But Ruth stood firm in her faith. While everyone around her focused on getting ahead by any means necessary, Ruth quietly but powerfully lived out her values—values rooted in God’s Word.

One day, Sarah, a colleague who had long mocked Ruth’s faith, came to her in despair. Sarah’s mother had been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and the doctors had given up all hope. Ruth, knowing the power of prayer and trusting in God's ability to heal, offered to pray for Sarah’s mother.

Initially, Sarah was skeptical, laughing at the idea of prayer. But seeing no other option, Sarah reluctantly agreed.

Ruth prayed, not for show but from the depth of her faith. She asked God for a miracle, trusting that He was capable of doing what no doctor could.

A few days later, Sarah returned to Ruth, overwhelmed. "I don’t know how to explain it," she said, her voice trembling. "My mother is alive! The doctors don’t know what happened, but she’s getting better." Sarah was astonished, and in that moment, she realized that Ruth’s faith was not just a belief—it was a power that changed lives.

Ruth’s example of living a life of unwavering faith, even in the face of adversity, became the very message that led Sarah to Christ. Ruth didn’t need to preach a sermon or argue her faith. She lived it. Her good deeds, her kindness, and her steadfast belief in God’s ability to intervene became the powerful testimony that pointed Sarah to the truth.

Living with Uncommon Power: The apostle Peter calls us to live "good lives" in a world that is increasingly hostile to our faith.

But what does it mean to live a “good life” in the midst of opposition, temptation, and trials? It means living with uncommon power—a power that doesn’t come from the world but from God alone. Peter reminds us that we are "foreigners and exiles" in this world. We do not belong to its systems, its priorities, or its values. Our citizenship is in heaven, and our lives should reflect the glory of the One to whom we belong.

This uncommon power is a strength that helps us resist sinful desires—the desires that wage war against our souls.

It’s the power to forgive when we are wronged, to love when others hate, and to serve when others seek to be served.

It’s the strength to be humble when the world tells us to fight for our place. It’s the power to speak truth in a world of lies, and to stand firm in our faith when the pressure to compromise is overwhelming.

The power Peter speaks of is not a flashy, forceful power. It is a quiet strength that, though invisible to the world, is undeniably present.

It is a life that reflects Christ in every action, in every word, and in every choice. It is a life that others can look at and say, “There is something different about you. I want to know what you have.”